How did Abraham get Rich?

Historical study is a wonderful boon for understanding God’s word. For instance, how many times have we, as every day Christians, read over the fact that Abraham, Isaac and Jacob were incredibly wealthy? In Genesis 24:35 we read, “"The LORD has greatly blessed my master, so that he has become rich; and He has given him flocks and herds, and silver and gold, and servants and maids, and camels and donkeys.” (emphasis added). In this passage we see Abraham’s servant proclaiming the riches of his master Abraham, who had sent this servant out to secure a wife for his son. This scripture is incredibly explicit in regard to the vast wealth of Abraham. But, how did he amass this wealth? Let’s not forget that he left his homeland and the security of his native community.

            When you begin to dig into the culture and economics of Abraham’s location and time, 1900’s BC, you find that camels brought wealth. The ability to traverse the land safely in order to transport goods was a sure way to gain wealth. Plus, leaving his “urban” community, it was much different than what we think when we think urban, and moving to land near present day Israel provided pasture for livestock to flourish and crops to be grown. Taking all of this data together it is easy to see that having food and wool, with an accompanying was to transport it in the ancient world, would have brought Abraham the opportunity to become very wealthy. I say, “opportunity” because I think that God and Abraham’s obedience to God had as much if not more to do with his earthly blessing of wealth than everything else. Abraham may have left Ur a well off man, but he grew in riches because he trusted God. More than the riches he gained, his faith was “credited to him as righteousness” by God. That is how we enjoy the blessings of this world with thanksgiving (1 Tim 4:4) and, at the same time, “store up for yourselves treasures in heaven” (Matthew 6:20).